Travel from Missoula to Livingston, Montana

We drove our coach 237 miles, about 4 hour of driving, from Missoula, Montana to Livingston, Montana.

The map route for this leg, heading south:

Map route

Leaving the RV park:

Leaving the RV park

Fuel up behind another motorhome:

Fuel up

Lots of roadworks on this journey, as they were rebuilding pretty much all of the bridges, one side at a time:

Roadworks

More roadworks:

More roadworks

Snack delivery:

Snack delivery

Smoky trees:

Smoky trees

Smoky roadworks:

Smoky roadworks

Interesting building and roadworks:

Interesting building and roadworks

Rest stop:

Rest stop

Quite a nice-looking building:

Quite a nice-looking building

Lunch:

Lunch

Paladin in a box:

Paladin in a box

More roadworks:

More roadworks

More roadworks

More roadworks

More roadworks

Paladin on the theater seating:

Paladin on theater seating

Paladin on theater seating

Oversize load:

Large load

Continental Divide, elevation 6393:

Continental Divide, elevation 6393

Another rest stop:

Rest stop

We had the hazard blinkers on going up a hill; the cameras change to show 4-up in this mode:

Cameras

Smoky:

Smoky

Yet more roadworks:

More roadworks

A rather narrow and bumpy road leading to the destination:

Narrow road

The RV park entrance:

Entrance

Enter:

Enter

Office:

Office

Guided to our site:

Guided to site

Jim & Mary’s RV Park

We stayed at Jim & Mary’s RV Park in Missoula, Montana. (Campground Reviews listing.)

For long-time readers, if that name sounds a little familiar, it’s because we stayed here on our way home from Yellowstone last year. We liked it so much, we took the opportunity to go back here this year.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2022-09-11
  • Check out: 2022-09-14
  • 3 nights

Weather:

  • Partly sunny, but mostly smoky from nearby wildfires; a little drizzle
  • High temps ranging between 79-89°F, lows around 49-53°F
  • A little wind

Noise:

  • Some road noise; nearby train noise
  • No significant neighbor noise

Site:

  • #E12, pull through, gravel
  • Didn’t need to disconnect toad, and didn’t, since we didn’t need to go anywhere
  • Fairly level
  • Fairly large site: about 75 feet long by about 40 feet wide
  • Full hookups:
    • 50 amp power, somewhat conveniently located
    • 50 PSI water, somewhat conveniently located (boosted from our tank)
    • Good sewer connection, not very conveniently located (2 10-foot pipes needed)
  • Picnic table on grass
  • Some trees; clear sky for Starlink
  • Delightful landscaping with flowerbeds and decorations

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • Starlink: 2-6 Mbps down, 7-9 Mbps up, 55 ms ping
  • T-Mobile: 22 Mbps down, 14-32 Mbps up, 100 ms ping
  • AT&T: 16-20 Mbps down, 12 Mbps up, 115 ms ping
  • Verizon: 8-12 Mbps down, 4-7 Mbps up, 110 ms ping
  • Campground Wi-Fi: limited, not used

Amenities:

  • Dumpsters
  • No pool
  • Package delivery to outside of office

Here’s our review on Campground Reviews:

Still the prettiest park

This was our second stay here, and it’s still just so lovely. The roads are easily navigable even for our 40′ motorhome and tow vehicle, the trees are nicely trimmed back, so there were no scraping branches or anything. There is a bit of road and train noise, but the beautiful surroundings make up for it. We camped at Jim & Mary’s RV Park in a Motorhome.

The RV park map:

Map

Our site:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

The power and water was kinda far away from the coach:

Power and water

The sewer wasn’t super close either, requiring two hoses:

Sewer

Dumpsters near our site, with a train going by beyond:

Dumpsters and train

Train

The office:

Office

Rather unusual to have recycling at an RV park:

Recycling

Bathrooms:

Bathrooms

Tourist info:

Tourist info

Greenhouses:

Greenhouses

Greenhouses

Lots of very nice landscaping:

Landscaping

Landscaping

Landscaping

Landscaping

Landscaping

Landscaping

Landscaping

Landscaping

Landscaping

Bathrooms:

Bathrooms

Landscaping

Landscaping

Landscaping

This was the site we had last year:

Site we had last year

Other sites and more landscaping:

Landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Other sites and landscaping

Our site again:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Travel from West Glacier to Missoula, Montana

We drove our coach 124 miles, about 3 hour of driving, from West Glacier, Montana to Missoula, Montana. Beginning our trek from the top of the country to the bottom — we’ll be spending the winter in Texas this year.

The map route for this leg, heading south:

Map route

Smoky US-2:

Smoky US-2

US-2 next to the Flathead River:

US-2 next to the Flathead River

Roadworks on MT-206:

Roadworks on US-206

We stopped at Woody’s Country Store for lunch again:

Woody's Country Store

Woody's Country Store

Our coach

Woody's Country Store

Woody's Country Store

Woody's Country Store

Woody's Country Store

Woody's Country Store

Very tasty fries and burger:

Food

Paladin sitting on the dash as we returned to our coach:

Paladin

Some sights along MT-35 next to Flathead Lake:

MT-35

MT-35

MT-35

MT-35

MT-35

MT-35

Flathead Lake:

Flathead Lake

Oops, a dining chair fell over; we might want to think about securing it with a bungee or something:

Dining chair fell over

US-93

Several places in Ronan had decorated hay bales:

Decorated hay bales

Decorated hay

US-93

US-93

In the Flathead Reservation, the signs were bilingual:

Flathead signs

Flathead signs

Flathead signs

A wildlife bridge:

Flathead signs

US-93

Our destination, Jim and Mary’s RV Park:

Jim and Mary's RV Park

Jim and Mary's RV Park

Our site before occupation:

Our site

Our coach:

Our coach

Jenn and Paladin looking out the driver window:

Jenn and Paladin

Golfing to the Sun and waterfalls in Glacier National Park

Once the family arrived at the campground, we did another couple of trips into Glacier National Park. I didn’t go on one, but for the last trip, we all went to West Glacier Village for lunch, swag shopping, and mini golf. Then went a bit into the park to look at some waterfalls.

The Café:

Café

Burger:

Burger

Gift shop:

Gift shop

Golfing to the Sun mini golf:

Golfing to the Sun

Golfing to the Sun

Golfing to the Sun

Golfing to the Sun

Golfing to the Sun

Golfing to the Sun

Golfing to the Sun

Golfing to the Sun

Golfing to the Sun

Golfing to the Sun

I got a hole in one on the 18th hole; yay!

Golfing to the Sun

A bear makes rude comments on the putting skill:

Golfing to the Sun

Mercantile:

Mercantile

We headed into the park:

West Entrance

Lake McDonald:

Lake McDonald

McDonald Creek:

McDonald Creek

McDonald Creek

A viewing deck:

Viewing deck

Viewing deck

Selfie

McDonald Creek

McDonald Creek

McDonald Creek

McDonald Creek

McDonald Creek

McDonald Creek bridge:

McDonald Creek bridge

McDonald Creek

McDonald Creek

A horse tour crossing the bridge:

Horses

Horses

Horses

Horses

Lake McDonald Lodge:

Lake McDonald Lodge

Lake McDonald one last time:

Lake McDonald

Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park

We did a day-trip around the south of Glacier National Park, then along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road through the park.

Here’s an interactive route map with some of our stops marked, going counter-clockwise:

Highway 2 south of Glacier:

Highway 2 south of Glacier

A stop at Silver Staircase Waterfall (probably more impressive at another time of year):

Silver Staircase Waterfall

Silver Staircase Waterfall

Silver Staircase Waterfall

Glacier from US-2:

Glacier from US 2

Glacier from US 2

East Glacier Park:

East Glacier Park

Whistle Stop Restaurant for lunch:

Whistle Stop Restaurant

Whistle Stop Restaurant

Whistle Stop Restaurant

Two Medicine Road:

Two Medicine Road

Glacier National Park sign:

Glacier National Park sign

Two Medicine Road:

Two Medicine Road

Two Medicine Road

Two Medicine Lake:

Two Medicine Lake

US-89 heading north towards the St Mary Visitor Center:

US 89

Roadworks:

Roadworks

US-89:

US-89

St Mary Visitor Center:

St Mary Visitor Center

St Mary Visitor Center

St Mary Visitor Center

St Mary Visitor Center

St Mary Visitor Center

St Mary Visitor Center

St Mary Visitor Center

St Mary Visitor Center

Views from Going-to-the-Sun Road, through the park:

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road

An interesting van:

Interesting van

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

Logan Pass

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

A closed underground restroom:

Closed underground restroom

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

A little close:

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

An iconic red bus:

Iconic red bus

Tunnel

Tunnel

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

View from Going-to-the-Sun Road

Waterfall:

Waterfall

Waterfall

Waterfall

Lake McDonald:

Lake McDonald

Roadworks:

Roadworks

Roadworks

Heading out the west entrance:

West entrance

Mirror glass replacement

While driving along I-5 in Tacoma, Washington, a truck got a bit too close to us, and bashed their mirror into ours, shattering the mirror glass:

Cracked mirror

In this frame from the dashcam, you can see that their mirror was knocked back from the impact:

Truck

The cracked mirror:

Cracked mirror

I ordered replacement mirror glass from the manufacturer:

Replacement mirror glass

Replacement mirror glass

Removing the broken glass:

Removing broken glass

The mirror is heated, so I needed to disconnect it (I’ve already unhooked one connector in this pic):

Disconnecting heater

Behind the glass:

Behind the glass

New and old glass:

New and old glass

The mirror is mounted using adhesive pads and clips at the top and bottom:

Adhesive pads

The replaced mirror glass:

Replaced mirror glass

Unfortunately, the motor that adjusts the mirror position also seems to have been damaged; we can move the mirror in every direction except towards the coach. So we’ll have to get that fixed sometime. Not so urgent, since we can still adjust it by hand.

Moose Creek RV Resort and B&B

We stayed at Moose Creek RV Resort and B&B in West Glacier, Montana. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A nice place for a family reunion. We met up with some family members to hang out together and visit Glacier National Park.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2022-09-02
  • Check out: 2022-09-11
  • 9 nights

Weather:

  • Mostly sunny, one day with a little drizzle
  • High temps ranging between 66-93°F, lows around 32-50°F
  • A little wind

Noise:

  • No road noise; some train noise
  • No neighbor noise

Site:

  • #3, back in, gravel, with small concrete pad under back wheels
  • Needed to disconnect toad; parked in front of coach
  • Not level due to concrete pad
  • Large site: about 90 feet long by about 90 feet wide
  • Full hookups:
    • 50 amp power, not very conveniently located
    • 45 PSI water, conveniently located (boosted from our tank)
    • Good sewer connection, conveniently located (1 10-foot pipe)
  • Picnic table on grass
  • Tall trees on driver side; clear sky for Starlink

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • Starlink: 25 Mbps down, 4 Mbps up, 55 ms ping
  • AT&T: 18-37 Mbps down, 5-8 Mbps up, 120 ms ping
  • Verizon: 18 Mbps down, 9 Mbps up, 80 ms ping
  • T-Mobile: no service
  • Campground Wi-Fi: available but not used

Amenities:

  • Dumpsters
  • No pool
  • Onsite cafe
  • Package delivery to office

Here’s our review on Campground Reviews:

Great place for a family reunion

We met up with several members of the family so we could do Glacier. We have a 40′ motorhome and had a great back-in site on the edge of the property, central to where everyone else stayed in the park with their small trailer, rooftop tent, and glamping pod rental, so there was something for everyone. Being just a couple of miles from Glacier was great for day trips to the park. It was wonderful having the caf on site for breakfast or a latte in the morning. We camped at Moose Creek RV Park and B&B in a Motorhome.

The RV park map:

Map

Our site before parking:

Our site before parking

Our site:

Our site

Our site

The weird little concrete pad:

Concrete pad

Back jacks; no need for jack pads on concrete:

Jacks

Utilities:

Utilities

We used the Starlink dish; I put out cones to mark the cable, since it was on grass (good thing, too, since the grass was mowed while we were out; they mowed around the cable):

Cones for Starlink

The entrance:

Entrance

Office and playground:

Office and playground

Phone booth (kids, ask your parents):

Phone booth

Group fire pit:

Group fire pit

Bathrooms:

Bathrooms

Dog park:

Dog park

Other sites:

Other sites

Other sites

A retro trailer at the dump station:

Retro trailer

The back of our site:

Our site

Sites 42 and 41, where some of our family stayed:

Other sites

The parents stayed in a glamping pod:

Glamping pods

Glamping pod

Glamping pod

Glamping pod

Glamping pod

A nice thing about this park was an on-site café:

Cafe

Café breakfast:

Cafe breakfast

Another café breakfast, eating in the nice little seating area by the café:

Cafe breakfast

Dinner while watching baseball on our outside TV:

Dinner and baseball

There are wildfires in the area; here’s a helicopter with a water bucket:

Helicopter with water bucket

For the last family breakfast, I cooked bacon and pancakes on my griddle:

Griddle bacon

Griddle pancakes

A sunset:

Sunset

Our coach after removing the Magne Shades, in preparation for departure:

Our coach